Family: Asparagaceae
Common name: Common asparagus fern, Asparagus grass, Lace fern, Feathered asparagus fern, Climbing asparagus, Plumosa fern, Ferny asparagus
Asparagus fern is a delicate-looking, but sturdy fern renowned for its graceful, feathery foliage that is often used in cut flower arrangements. They are native to Southern and Eastern Africa, but have now spread to most tropical countries.
Plant characteristics
Asparagus ferns have slender, dark green, flexible stems that can grow to a length of about 1 meter in a sprawling manner.
They can climb on fences or supporting structures, and also hang gracefully from hanging pots or baskets. These stems have prickly thorns making it difficult to remove the plant by hand.
The most notable feature of the Asparagus fern is the beautiful lace-like leaves. These are not actual leaves, but modified shoots called cladodes that perform the role of leaves.
They are bright green when young, turning darker in color as they get older. The leaves are finely divided into small needle-like structures that give them a lace-like, feathery appearance. Though they are called ferns, they are not actual ferns.
The length of the leaves is about 15-20 cm, and the finely-divided leaflets are less than a centimeter long. Asparagus ferns produce small, delicate, white, star-shaped flowers that are 5-6 mm in diameter.
Though flowering is not very common, the plant looks very pretty when it blooms, producing a large number of pristine white flowers dotting the dark green backdrop.
Asparagus ferns also produce small, round, red berries that are 8-10 mm in diameter, containing small black seeds.
Gardening tips
Asparagus ferns are very easy to grow and maintain, making it the ideal plant for the novice gardener. They prefer good sunlight, though they can thrive in partial or filtered sunlight.
Their thick stems and feathery leaves ensure that the plant needs very little water, surviving even in summer without regular watering.
Make sure they are planted in well-drained soil since water-logging can cause the plant to wilt and die. Fertilization is needed only once in 3-4 months since these plants are not heavy feeders. Pruning can be done to remove any wayward or diseased branches, or to keep the plant trim and bushy.
When planted in the soil or in a pot, it is essential to give the plant a supporting structure to climb on. They also make excellent hanging plants in pots or baskets from which the stems can trail downwards gracefully.
Asparagus ferns are closely related to Asparagus densiflorus or Foxtail ferns and Asparagus racemosus or Shathavari.
Uses of Asparagus ferns
Asparagus ferns are grown as ornamental plants in home gardens and landscaped areas. Parts of the plant are toxic, and hence care should be taken to keep small children and pets away from them.
The leaves are long-lasting even when they are cut from the parent plant, making them excellent additions to floral arrangements. Asparagus ferns are considered invasive in some parts of the world, spreading quickly in the wild or in undisturbed areas.
They are not eaten by grazing animals because of the thorns on the stems, and the toxicity.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds and stem cuttings.
Since flowers and fruits are not commonly seen in house plants, propagation is through stem cuttings or by root division. 10-15 cm long stem cuttings with nodes can be planted in moist, well-drained soil to grow roots.
Photographed at: Thrissur, Kerala
